Data sensing and processing device for scuba divers

• US 4,882,678 A
• Filed: 01/14/1987
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comerica Bank & Trust (Comerica Incorporated), HO Underwater Acquisition LLC
• Original Assignee: Oceanic USA
• Inventors: Lewis, John E., Hollis, Robert, Ackerman, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US07/003,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 364/418, 364/558, 364/803, 364/413.31, 728/204.23, 728/205.23, 73/432.1, 73/865.1
• US Class Current: 73/865.1
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/32 Decompression arrangements; Exercise equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2011/021 Diving computers, i.e. portable computers specially adapted for divers, e.g. wrist worn, watertight electronic devices for detecting or calculating scuba diving parameters

Abstract

A portable data sensing and processing device for a SCUBA diver using a tank of compressed air wherein the device provides integrated information to the diver on a liquid crystal display screen to permit the diver to make a longer time variable depth underwater dive than would be permitted by the U.S. Navy dive tables for a no-decompression ascent.

Claims

1. A portable data sensor, processor, and display mounted in a waterproof case for use by a SCUBA diver using a tank of compressed air and for continuously determining during an underwater dive the allowable remaining dive time for the diver comprising

said data sensor including at least a means for measuring the air pressure in the tank, a means for measuring the ambient hydrostatic pressure, and a means for measuring time, all of said measuring means mounted in said case and producing data sensor output signals,

said processor including at least a first simulating means responsive to said data sensor output signals and arithmetically combining the same for predicting the dive time remaining at depth that provides for an air reserve following an ascent to the surface, and a second simulating means responsive to said data sensor output signals and for arithmetically combining the same and predicting the dive time remaining at depth that provides for a direct ascent to the surface without the need for decompression stops, said time predicted by said second simulating means being the no-decompression dive time limit,

said processor including a selection means for determining the allowable remaining dive time which is the lesser of the two dive times predicted by the first and second simulating means, and

means for displaying this allowable remaining dive time on said display.

2. The portable device of claim 1 including a graphical visual display of decompression status information comprising,

means for monitoring during a dive by a SCUBA diver utilizing said device the allowable remaining dive time and for determining the minimum amount of no-decompression dive time remaining that occurred during a dive,

means for monitoring holding time spent at a nitrogen purge depth at the end of a dive and prior to surfacing,

means for adding the holding time to the minimum amount of allowable remaining no-decompression dive time that occurred during said dive including negative or decompression dive time, and

means for graphically displaying the sum of said times on said display.

3. The portable device of claim 1 including, means for creating and recording the profile of an underwater dive by a SCUBA diver utilizing said device, said profile being the time versus depth experienced by said data sensor during said dive,

means for replicating in said processor the repetitive dive schedule data contained in the U.S. Navy Diving Manual,

means for comparing in said processor the actual dive profiles of prior underwater dives experienced by the device with said dive schedule data and selecting the repetitive dive group status defined in said Manual that has been experienced by the device during said dives, and

means for visually displaying on said display the repetitive dive group status experienced by the device prior to a subsquent underwater excursion by the device.

4. The portable device of claims 1 or 4 including,

means for recording underwater dive profiles and violations of no-decompression dive limits for subsequent recall and visual display, and

means for automatically de-activating the device for periods of time after violations of no-decompression dive limits have occurred during a dive by a SCUBA diver utilizing said device.